Cost-benefit analysis

Outsourced vs in-house accounting: the real numbers.

Compare the true costs, expertise, scalability and risk of in-house versus outsourced accounting, so you can make the right call for your business.

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Many business owners assume in-house accounting is cheaper, until they add up the full cost. Once you factor in super, leave, recruitment, training, software and management time, the numbers tell a very different story.

The true cost of in-house

Base salary (mid-level bookkeeper)$65,000
Superannuation$7,475
Annual & sick leave provisions$7,500
Recruitment costs$3,000-5,000
Training, software, equipment$4,500+
Total (before management overhead)$87,000-90,000

For qualified accountants, the true annual cost exceeds $120,000. Outsourcing the same scope typically costs $5,000-$25,000 per year, a saving of $70,000+ for most small businesses.

Pros and cons at a glance

In-house

  • Dedicated resource on site
  • Immediate availability
  • Deep, single-business knowledge
  • Full control over processes
  • High cost ($87K+ annually)
  • Limited to one person's expertise
  • No backup during leave
  • Recruitment & turnover risk
  • Management overhead

Outsourced (Accountee)

  • Expert team access
  • 60-70% lower cost
  • Instant scalability
  • No recruitment hassles
  • Always covered, modern tech included

For around 95% of small businesses, outsourcing's advantages, lower cost, broader expertise, guaranteed cover and instant scalability, far outweigh the drawbacks.

FAQ

Common questions.

What's the true cost of in-house accounting?

Far more than salary. For a mid-level bookkeeper: $65,000 base, $7,475 super, ~$7,500 leave provisions, $3,000-5,000 recruitment, $1,500-2,500 training, $2,000 software, $1,000 equipment, plus management overhead, totalling $87,000-90,000 annually. Qualified accountants exceed $120,000+. Hidden costs include knowledge gaps, no leave backup, turnover risk and management time.

How much does outsourced accounting actually cost?

Basic bookkeeping runs $150-$400/month; full bookkeeping plus BAS $300-$600; comprehensive packages with payroll and reporting $600-$1,200. Most small businesses spend $5,000-$15,000 annually versus $87,000+ in-house, saving $70,000+. Accountee provides full bookkeeping, payroll, BAS and CFO-level advice for less than $25,000 annually, around 60-70% savings.

What are the pros and cons of each approach?

In-house pros: dedicated resource, immediate availability, deep business knowledge, full control. Cons: high cost, limited expertise, no leave backup, turnover risk, management overhead. Outsourced pros: expert team, 60-70% lower cost, instant scalability, no recruitment, always covered, modern tech. Cons: less immediate on-site availability (though quality providers respond same-day), requires trust, initial onboarding effort. For most small businesses, outsourcing wins.

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